“The Captain Knows the World Is Littered With Signs” by Jeremy Paden

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He had read the books
of those who’d traveled
east and returned with
spices and stories
of unicorned beasts
covered in armor

He himself has seen
in the azure sea
mermaids feed their young
heard their evening song

These were simply proof
that sailing west was
also sailing east

He knew how much they
wanted to expand
their wealth and corner
the trade in trinkets

He knew what he’d find
so he sent his tongues
versed in Arabic
Hebrew and Latin
to speak the good word

How they understood
that in these islands
men who eat men hunt
and harvest who knows
but this was further
proof that they’d arrived

He had read the books
he knew what he’d find
on the other side

-Jeremy Paden

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